Nigeria Secure Africa Cup of Nations Last 16 Spot In Spite of Late Tunisia Fightback
Former Continent's Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen helped his team establish a 3-0 lead, but they were forced to hold on for a narrow win.
Nigeria survived a dramatic comeback attempt from Tunisia to progress to the last 16 of the Afcon tournament taking place in Morocco.
The Super Eagles appeared to be cruising in their pool encounter in the Moroccan city, holding a 3-0 cushion with just a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to strikes from their attacking trio.
However, a Tunisian defender reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from a Manchester United midfielder free-kick, sparking hopes of a recovery.
The tension intensified when the North Africans were given a spot-kick after a video assistant referee check spotted a handling offense by the Nigerian defender. The left-back calmly slotted home in the dying stages to set up a frantic finale.
The Carthage Eagles came agonizingly close from a last-gasp equalizer in stoppage time, with their skipper heading a opportunity just past the post before Ismael Gharbi guided a bobbling volley past the upright.
Clinching Top Spot
This result ensures that the Super Eagles, champions of the tournament on 3 previous occasions, move to 6 group points and are assured top spot in their pool with a match still to play.
For the round of 16, they will face a third-placed team from one of Group A, B or F.
Meanwhile, the 2004 champions remain on 3 points, with Uganda and Tanzania tied on one point after registering a one-all draw earlier on Saturday.
The final group matches will see the group leaders remain in Fes to take on Uganda on the next matchday, while Tunisia travel back to the capital to face the Taifa Stars.
An Anxious Conclusion
Ali Abdi drilled home from the penalty spot to give Tunisia hope of earning a point.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, become the next nation after the Pharaohs to reach the next phase, but their manager and fans will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief.
What seemed set to be a straightforward final quarter transformed into a tense conclusion.
Victor Osimhen had a goal disallowed for an infringement before opening the scoring on the stroke of the interval, expertly guiding a glancing effort into the far post from an Atalanta winger delivery.
The lead was extended soon in the second period when the Leicester City midfielder climbed above everyone to power home a header from a set-piece corner.
The number 9 then turned provider his teammate for the seemingly decisive goal, before the defender to direct a header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to begin the comeback.
The key moment came when a looping cross hit the arm of the full-back, with the official pointing to the spot after consulting the pitchside screen.
Despite the defender's successful penalty, the 2004 champions ultimately came up just short of pulling off a remarkable recovery.
Their fate is still in their own hands; a point against Tanzania will be sufficient to see them through, and manager Sami Trabelsi will be eager to prevent a recurrence of the past early elimination that led to his previous resignation.